Help Please! Air cells look too big

[4chickns]

Is it normal for the air cells to grow during lockdown? I can see them through the side of my mini Eco and they have gotten huge, especially on top. Day 20 was this afternoon. I don't see any internal pips (possibly one one the bottom that I can't see very well), but I can see them moving behind the membrane. Is this normal? I've only hatched under our hens, so I see the air cell on day 18, then obviously don't see anything until the little guys pop out. I went into lockdown about 12 hours late. Humidity was about 40% with air cells looking pretty good throughout incubation (with calibrated hygrometer). Humidity is now 65-70%
Any insight is really appreciated. Kind of freaking out here. I was expecting to see a pip by now.
Thanks so much!

 

[WalnutHill]

Yes! Air cell growth during lockdown is normal and dramatic. I mark the lowest dip of the air cell at lockdown, and the pip is usually 1/4" below that.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Yes! Air cell growth during lockdown is normal and dramatic. I mark the lowest dip of the air cell at lockdown, and the pip is usually 1/4" below that.

x2 Perfectly normal.

 

[4chickns]

x2 Perfectly normal.

Yes! Air cell growth during lockdown is normal and dramatic. I mark the lowest dip of the air cell at lockdown, and the pip is usually 1/4" below that.

Thank you both! I think I like this better under my broody hens, ignorance is bliss I think one has pipped the inner membrane because I can see shadows in there and his beak sticking through sometimes. Now I need to stop staring at them and go to sleep, my husband told me I'm going to creep them out, peering at them through their window all day. Im going to get slapped with a hatching egg restraining order.
Thanks again, Hopefully they're just running a little late!

 

[WalnutHill]

Thank you both! I think I like this better under my broody hens, ignorance is bliss

I think one has pipped the inner membrane because I can see shadows in there and his beak sticking through sometimes. Now I need to stop staring at them and go to sleep, my husband told me I'm going to creep them out, peering at them through their window all day.

Im going to get slapped with a hatching egg restraining order.
Thanks again, Hopefully they're just running a little late!

I almost fell off my chair laughing...

 

[4chickns]

Hatching success! We had 7 perfect little silkies hatch on day 21, everyone is healthy and growing so far! Of course they all took a full 24 hours from pip to zip, mocking me from their pip holes the entire time. Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer a few questions, and those who answered questions I didn't even have to ask (most questions had already been answered in some capacity just through the search or the learning center
Now I need to put the incubator away, it's staring at me, and it looks sad.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hatching success!

We had 7 perfect little silkies hatch on day 21, everyone is healthy and growing so far! Of course they all took a full 24 hours from pip to zip, mocking me from their pip holes the entire time. Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer a few questions, and those who answered questions I didn't even have to ask (most questions had already been answered in some capacity just through the search or the learning center
Now I need to put the incubator away, it's staring at me, and it looks sad.

They are beautiful! Congrats!

 

[WalnutHill]

They're beautiful!

 

[song of joy]

Yes! Air cell growth during lockdown is normal and dramatic. I mark the lowest dip of the air cell at lockdown, and the pip is usually 1/4" below that.

Just curious . . . what causes the air cell to grow during lockdown when the humidity is up so high (e.g., 65%)?

 

[lazy gardener]

transpiration through the cell membranes and shell. There's a lot of metabolic activity and growth going on at that time. It's not all about evaporation. Such an incredible process!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!